Planners turn down broiler shed

Poultry farmers have been warned not to propose sites that are too near human habitations if they want to get planning applications passed.

Plans for a 40,000-bird unit at Levens near Kendal in the Lake District were rejected by South Lakeland District Council after a petition with more than 300 signatures and 50 individual letters of objection were received.

The planners said that their principal problem was that the site was 74m from a holiday lodge site. Planning guidelines suggest poultry units should be 400m from the nearest homes.

Jonathan Lamb from Sampool Holiday and Lodge Site, told planners: “Please don’t ignore these local residents. There are far more opportunities on less sensitive locations for this and there is no planning justification for this scheme.

“With this number of birds there would be extreme smells, fine particles of dust and it would have a catastrophic effect on both the landscape and local economy.”

The planners recommended refusal of the unit, which would have measured 94m x 18m, and councillors agreed.

However the councillors indicated that the decision had been difficult because they were aware that there would have been economic benefits to the area and they were aware that farmers now had to diversify in order to survive in difficult economic times.